Wales confirm tour to Australia

[Bardon]

Going to be a full 3 test tour in June 2012

Wales have confirmed they will play a three-Test tour of Australia next June.

The two sides met in last month's World Cup bronze medal play-off, with the Wallabies edging it 21-18.

Wales will get their first chance for revenge on 3 December when Australia come to Cardiff for a one-off Test.

Then the Wallabies will turn hosts, with the first encounter set for 9 June at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, followed by Tests on consecutive Saturdays in Melbourne and Sydney.

It will be the first time since 2001 - when the British and Irish Lions toured Australia - that the Wallabies will play a European heavyweight in a three-Test series across the June window.

Welsh Rugby Union group chief executive Roger Lewis said: "Wales and Australia were two of the best teams in the 2011 Rugby World Cup and it will be a mouth-watering opportunity for fans to see the two sides lock horns again.

"The Welsh fans proved that they are fantastic travelling support when they turned up in New Zealand, creating a sea of red at all Wales' fixtures.

"We are hopeful that the loyal expats will do Wales proud again when they have the opportunity to support the Welsh team next summer.

"It is an ideal opportunity for Wales to be tested against one of the best teams around and challenge on a world stage.

"It will also be a fantastic experience for any Welsh players who are seeking to travel back to Australia with the British and Irish Lions the following year."

 

[Army_Gav]

We've all known about this before the RWC. Their effort at the Cup and playoff for third against us, has raised the profile of the Dec 3 game and this tour significantly.

 

[Slim 293]

Well, finally...

ACT eyes Wales match

BY CHRIS DUTTON
05 Nov, 2011 01:00 AM

The ACT Brumbies are set to get a chance to test themselves against Wales or Scotland next year with a mid-week fixture likely to be scheduled at Canberra Stadium in June.

The ARU has announced the Wallabies fixtures for the mid-season Super Rugby break next year with Scotland to play in Newcastle and Wales to play in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

Although Canberra did not secure a Test match, it is understood the Brumbies are negotiating to host either team in the capital.

The most likely scenario is a visit from world No 8 Wales which is set to be scheduled between the Tests in Brisbane on June 9 and in Melbourne on June 16.

A revamped Super Rugby season has opened the door for Jake White's Brumbies to take on Wales.

An extended season means there will be a Super Rugby three-week bye in June to allow for Tests. Should the Brumbies' clash with Wales go ahead, it will be the team's only match in Canberra in June. Before the Super Rugby draw was issued, the Brumbies asked SANZAR if they could avoid playing in the capital during the coldest months of the year.

They will play the Melbourne Rebels on June 1 at AAMI Park before resuming the season against the Western Force in Perth on June 30.


The Wallabies are set to sport a heavy Reds tinge when they kick off next year's new-look international season with a surprise mid-week Test against Scotland.

Australia will start its 2012 campaign with a challenging two games in five days in early June when they play the Scots in a historic one-off clash in Newcastle before backing up against Wales.


But the short turnaround in the June 5 and 9 Tests, wedged into the start of Super Rugby's mid-season break, will make it impracticable for coach Robbie Deans to choose his full-strength team for both.

While the NSW Waratahs, Brumbies and Melbourne Rebels all play Super Rugby matches the weekend before on June1 and 2, the Queensland Reds and Western Force both enjoy round-15 byes.

ARU officials admitted yesterday it was likely the Wallabies would draw heavily on Reds and Force players to meet the Scots at Ausgrid Stadium as they would have to ''manage resources''.

Meanwhile, Deans will announce his 26-man squad on Monday for the coming trip to Britain where the Wallabies will play the Barbarians at Twickenham (November26) and Wales (December3).

with AAP

 

[Lee Grant]

That will be terrific if Wales play a midweek game. It would be better still if there was a second one.

 

[RugbyReg]

The ARU has announced the Wallabies fixtures for the mid-season Super Rugby break next year with Scotland to play in Newcastle and Wales to play in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

I thought it was only a three week break during the season?

Reds play:

w/e of 26 May v Brumbies
w/e of 2 June is BYE
w/e of 9 June is a TEST WEEKEND
w/e of 16 June is a TEST WEEKEND
w/e of 23 June is a TEST WEEKEND
w/e of 30 June v Rebels.

???

 

[Lee Grant]

Indicating not many Reds will be needed for the Wallabies next year you think Reg?

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Doesnt it mean that the reds have got the bye leading into the test so that their test players will be able to be released to Deansy a week earlier?

 

[Sully]

It might mean a 4 weeks break is only 3 weekends. The ARU is certainly pushing the linits of how many tests they can play a year. I can see the term "Player Revolt" in a future headline.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

It might mean a 4 weeks break is only 3 weekends. The ARU is certainly pushing the linits of how many tests they can play a year. I can see the term "Player Revolt" in a future headline.

I wonder about keeping the public interested in the s. 15 during that break enough for them to come back to it after tests. Also Dingo doesn't get his players for the patented "build up" from, say, losing to Samoa to beating the Blackness. I think its a pretty big aks on a lot of fronts.

 

[Sully]

Does anyone know if there is still a limit on the number of games a player can play each year?

 

[RugbyReg]

I think all Aussie teams are playing the weekend of our bye (can others check that?).

Meaning there are 4 games scheduled for a 3 week window? Or am I incorrect?

Sorry, its right in front of me:

TUESDAY 5 June v Scotland (Newcastle)
SATURDAY 9 June v Wales (Brisbane)
SATURDAY 16 June v Wales (Melbourne)
SATURDAY 23 June v Wales (Sydney)

Can others check their state team's draw? If the Reds are the only one with the bye on that first weekend in June, you'd think there would be a predominantly Reds Wallaby team. Can't see much of a preparation for a test team with some playing Super Rugby on Saturday 2 June to back up for a test on the following Tuesday.

 

[RugbyReg]

sorry, adding to this. Rebels play Brumbies on Friday 1 June. Still a quick turn around.

Not sure what the Tahs and Force are up to.

 

[Sully]

Reg do you have any idea what a test match is worth to the ARU?

 

[RugbyReg]

Ok, me again. Aussie games that weekend before the Scotland game:

Friday 1 June Rebels v Brumbies AAMI Park, Melbourne
Saturday 2 June Waratahs v Hurricanes Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney

Force and Reds have the bye.

A heavy Force and Reds team?

 

[Slim 293]

According to recent reports the Scotland game is going to at least be a Reds/Force dominated side...

 

[Slim 293]

Reds, Force set to prop up Wallabies early Jim Morton
November 4, 2011
.AAP

The Wallabies are set to sport a heavy Reds tinge when they kick off next year's new-look international season with a surprise mid-week Test against Scotland.

Australia will start their 2012 campaign with a challenging two games in five days in early June when they play the Scots in a historic one-off clash in Newcastle before backing up against Wales.

The first Test in the Hunter region will give the Wallabies the chance to avenge one of the most painful losses of coach Robbie Deans' reign when they suffered a 9-8 upset at Murrayfield in 2009.

Advertisement: Story continues below But the short turnaround in the June 5 and 9 Tests, wedged into the start of Super Rugby's mid-season break, will make it impossible for Deans to choose his full-strength team for both.

While the NSW Waratahs, Brumbies and Melbourne Rebels all play Super Rugby matches the weekend before on June 1 and 2, the Queensland Reds and Western Force both enjoy round-15 byes.

Australian Rugby Union officials on Friday admitted it was likely the Wallabies would draw heavily on Reds and Force players to meet the Scots at Ausgrid Stadium as they would have to "manage resources".

Super Rugby champions Queensland delivered the most players (10) of any province to Australia's World Cup squad and have more players such as backs Ben Tapuai and Ben Lucas waiting in the wings for national call-ups.

The Force, who finished 12th last season, had four in the original 30-man Cup squad before originally-overlooked flanker Matt Hodgson joined the tournament late as an injury replacement.

The three-Test Welsh series - the first traditional tour Down Under since the British and Irish Lions' visit of 2001 - has been billed as a tour of the new northern hemisphere "heavyweights" by ARU boss John O'Neill.

Warren Gatland's rising team were the surprise packets of the World Cup, unlucky to lose 9-8 to France in the semi-final after having captain Sam Warburton sent off in the first half.

But the Wallabies would be vulnerable to another embarrassing early-season ambush, like they suffered against Samoa this year, if they didn't treat the Scots with respect in Newcastle.

Scotland will be targeting the June 5 Test as their biggest match of their tour of the Pacific, which also includes matches against Fiji.

The Wallabies will have players coming back from long injury breaks during the Super Rugby season and the likes of NSW forwards Rocky Elsom, Dan Vickerman and Benn Robinson and Brumbies back Pat McCabe might be better equipped to play three games in a week.

The Waratahs will be coming off a Saturday night (June 2) clash with the Hurricanes while the Brumbies meet the Rebels in Melbourne the night before.

Meanwhile, Deans will on Monday announce his 26-man squad for the upcoming trip to the United Kingdom where the Wallabies will play the Barbarians at Twickenham (November 26) and Wales (December 3).

The Wallabies' June Test schedule:

June 5 Wallabies v Scotland at Ausgrid Stadium, Newcastle.

June 9 Wallabies v Wales at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.

June 16 Wallabies v Wales at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne.

June 23 Wallabies v Wales at Sydney Football Stadium.

© 2011 AAP

 

[RugbyReg]

Reg do you have any idea what a test match is worth to the ARU?

no, not at all. If it was at Gosford I could imagine a big payment from Singo, but in Newcastle v Scotland? Can't see where the cash comes from.

 

[matty_k]

Whoever owns Ausgrid Stadium I guess. Is that Tinkler?

 

[Ruggo]

Does anyone kno when the ARU will release tickets for the brisbane test?

 

[Inside Shoulder]

According to recent reports the Scotland game is going to at least be a Reds/Force dominated side...

cheapening the jersey